Researchers at London Health Sciences Centre Research Institute (LHSCRI) are driving forward advancements in patient care through research. This past year alone, our teams have made incredible strides across a number of research areas.
Treating the first publicly funded Canadian patient with new prostate cancer therapy
At LHSCRI, scientists are advancing new treatments and leading cutting-edge research to deepen our understanding of cancer — bringing new hope to individuals and families affected by the disease. In December 2024, LHSC administered the first publicly funded dose of Novartis PLUVICTO™ in Canada, marking a new standard of care for patients with advanced-stage prostate cancer. This new therapy was researched and trialed globally, including at LHSC, and is now funded through Ontario’s Ministry of Health.
“Testing new treatments through research and then making them available to patients is how we improve care,” says Dr. Narinder Paul, Department Head, Medical Imaging, LHSC. “With PLUVICTO™, we’re offering new hope to prostate cancer patients.”
Cancer patient first in Canada to be treated with a rare radioisotope
Researchers at LHSCRI were also the first in Canada to treat a patient with neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) – a rare form of cancer – using a radioisotope called actinium-225 DOTATATE. The treatment is a type of therapy called theranostics, which combines advanced diagnostic imaging technologies and radioisotopes to precisely locate tumours and eradicate them by releasing radioactive energy.
“Introducing a new treatment option to patients is a big win in the fight against cancer,” says Dr. David Laidley, Researcher at LHSCRI and Nuclear Oncologist at LHSC. “We’re seeing patients tolerate the therapy well with little to no side effects and we are hopeful this treatment may extend patients’ quality of life and life expectancy.”
Study shows high-precision radiation therapy is safe for patients with cancer that has spread throughout body
LHSCRI researchers are also studying the use of targeted radiation, known as stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR), in patients whose cancer has spread to more than 10 spots across multiple organs. In a Phase I clinical trial, 13 patients received five doses of SABR at LHSC’s Verspeeten Family Cancer Centre. The results demonstrated that SABR is safe for treating 10 or more lesions of cancer throughout the body. This promising research offers new hope to patients with limited drug treatment options and a follow-up study is being planned to explore it further.
“The Phase I trial was successful in demonstrating the safety and feasibility of this approach,” says Dr. Timothy Nguyen, a Radiation Oncologist at LHSC and the study’s lead author. “With this next, larger trial, ARREST-2, we are examining whether treating as many spots of cancer as safely possible can improve survival and give patients more time.”
Studying the impact of fecal transplants
Scientists at LHSCRI and Lawson Research Institute of St. Joseph’s Health Care London are leading groundbreaking research into how fecal transplants (yes, poop transplants!) can improve the effectiveness of cancer treatment. In a world first study, the research team will assess the treatment in a small group of pancreatic cancer patients from the Verspeeten Family Cancer Centre at LHSC to improve their response to chemotherapy.
“Pancreatic cancer has a poor survival rate of approximately 10 per cent over five years and is expected to be the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Canada in the next few years,” says Dr. John Lenehan, Scientist at LHSCRI and Medical Oncologist at the Verspeeten Family Cancer Centre at LHSC. “Through this study, we aim to offer a new, innovative treatment to patients.”
Scientists develop new tool to detect consciousness in the intensive care unit
In 2024, researchers at LHSCRI and Western University made a groundbreaking discovery by detecting signs of consciousness in coma patients with severe brain injuries in the intensive care unit (ICU) at LHSC’s University Hospital — a finding that could fundamentally reshape the future of patient care. Using a new portable brain imaging technique, functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), the research team investigated whether patients could feel pain, hear their surroundings, and retain conscious awareness. Remarkably, they found that an unresponsive patient demonstrated brain responses to the instruction “imagine playing a game of tennis,” indicating the patient’s awareness. By recording brain activity at the bedside, fNIRS could provide valuable insights into brain function and help assess the likelihood of patient recovery after a severe brain injury.
“Families of patients with severe brain injuries want to know whether their loved ones will be able to recover from their injuries,” says Dr. Derek Debicki, a Neurologist at LHSC, Assistant Professor of Neurology at Western University’s Schulich Medicine & Dentistry, and researcher at LHSCRI. “fNIRS is an exciting new tool that we can use at the bedside in the ICU to improve the way we answer this very important, complex question.”
Advanced AI technology allowing researchers to accurately diagnose prenatal exposure syndromes and birth disorders
At LHSCRI, innovative technology is pushing the boundaries of science and helping researchers make world-first discoveries to improve patient care. Using advanced artificial intelligence (AI) technology called EpiSign™, developed by Dr. Bekim Sadikovic, Research Chair in Clinical Genomics and Epigenomics at the Archie and Irene Verspeeten Clinical Genome Centre at LHSC, Dr. Sadikovic and his team are accurately diagnosing rare diseases and prenatal exposure-related birth abnormalities.
In one of two studies published in 2024, Dr. Sadikovic found that EpiSign™ can be used to accurately identify patients affected by birth disorders called recurrent constellation of embryonic malformations (RCEMs) for the first time using a blood test.
“Reaching an early and accurate diagnosis can be lifechanging. This is a major breakthrough that allows physicians to provide earlier and more accurate diagnosis, resulting in improved disease management,” says Dr. Sadikovic.
In a second study, Dr. Sadikovic’s team used EpiSign™ to develop an accurate biomarker for a group of disorders called fetal valproate syndrome, which is caused by prenatal exposure to toxic levels of medication and can result in neurodevelopmental disorders in infants.
“This is a significant breakthrough as it’s the first time the technology has been used to aid in diagnosis of a disease caused by environmental factors rather than genetics,” explains Dr. Sadikovic. “It highlights how epigenetics can be influenced by environmental and lifestyle factors, including diet, exercise and exposure to toxins.”